Mountlake Terrace student jailed, expelled after assault

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — A Mountlake Terrace High School senior was booked into the Snohomish County Jail Tuesday after allegedly sending a special education student to the hospital with a broken jaw.

The suspect, 18, was arrested for investigation of assault and robbery. He also was given an emergency expulsion, Edmonds School District officials said.

Besides the broken jaw, the injured student lost consciousness, suffered cuts and bruises to his face and had a front tooth knocked out, according to court papers. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he was treated for his injuries.

His family told school officials Wednesday that he has been released from the hospital.

“He will be home for several weeks recovering from a broken jaw,” school district spokeswoman DJ Jakala said.

Students made cards for the injured student and planned to raise money for his family.

“Our hearts go out to the student who had to suffer through such a horrific event,” Jakala said. “An event such as this is an isolated incident.”

In a letter to parents, high school principal Greg Schwab said the incident occurred shortly before lunchtime, when the senior attacked the junior in the boys’ bathroom.

“There was no weapon involved and the students did not know each other prior to this occurring,” Schwab wrote.

The victim said he was washing his hands in the bathroom when he was hit by the other student. He also said the older student took his wallet.

The suspect initially denied the assault, court papers said.

He changed his story, saying that the injured student and two other students he did not know had attempted to assault him with knives in the bathroom and he and a friend had to fight them off. The friend denied that account, court papers said.